Presented is a distributed computer network system and method for generating electronic title for commodities during international transit. The system populates data fields of a database with information from a shipper's letter of instruction concerning the commodity and identifying the title holder and the beneficial party. The data fields are transformed to create an electronic ocean bill of lading that associates title with a title holder identified therein. Encumbrance information from the titleholder and a third party, received through the network, is analyzed by a computer for any discrepancy. The computer authorizes an encumbrance on the title free of any paper documentation verifying the encumbrance, and updates the electronic ocean bill of lading to reflect the encumbrance. The electronic ocean bill of lading created by the computer is the sole determinant of the title to commodity, permitting the title holder to receive remuneration from the third party for the encumbrance.